Air conditioning apparatus



April 6, 1937. E. BERL 2,076,360

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet; 1.

m knnilfl. I 4

INVENTOR.

' ERA 57' BERL ATTORNEY.

April 6, 1937. R 2,076,360

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 4 I lNVE'NTOR.

BERL ATTORNEY.

April 6, 1937. B ERL 2,076,360

AIR CONDI'I IONING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 9, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VENTOR. I ERNST 55/ 1.

f ovqvm ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Ernst Berl, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application November 9, 1935, Serial No. l8,986

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to air conditioning apparatus and, more particularly, to an improved apparatus of a portable nature for cooling and conditioning air, especially in homes, apartments andthe like.

Heretofore, air conditioning and air cooling equipments have had shortcomings. and disadvantages. The old and convenional equipment was particularly inconvenient due to the fact that 0 it was cumbersome, non-transportable and expensive to install and to operate. Cooling equipment of convenional type likewise had the disadvantage of requiring powerful motors and compressors periodically actuated to compress a gas- 5 eous medium and of requiring all of the auxiliaries employed in connection with refrigerating apparatus. Accordingly, they have been inconvenient and noisy in operation and have not been particularly well adapted especially for 0 home use, for example, in apartments. The problem was further aggravated by the circumstance that under the temperate climate air cooling and conditioning equipment is generally used only for a relatively short time, generally not more than about 60 days a year. This relatively short time of actual operation made the installation of conventional air conditioning equipment very expensive and uneconomical due to the large investment and due to the idleness of the bulky apparatus for the greater part of the year taking up valuable space in an apartment or the like. The foregoing shortcomings and disadvantages acted as deterrents to prospective customers who did not desire to go to the expense connected with conventional air conditioning and cooling equipment. The art has been confronted with a problem of great practical importance and although many suggestions and proposals have been made to overcomethe difliculties outlined hereinabove, as far as I am aware, none of these suggestions and proposals has been completely satisfactory and successful, especially when attempted to be carried into commercial practice.

I have discovered an apparatus which solves 5 the problem in a remarkably simple manner.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning and cooling apparatus which isv adapted to the needsof the average home, apartment or hotel room and which is simple and inexpensive to build and to operate.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning and cooling apparatus which is quiet in its operation, is of small 5 dimensions, and may be readily moved from one part of an apartment, house or hotel to another where cooling and air conditioning is required.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a small and inexpensive home air conditioning unit which is entirely free from compressors, powerful motors, poisonous gases and the like and obtains its cooling efiect by melting ice with water in a simple, eiiiclent and fool-proof manner.

Theinvention also contemplates an inexpensive, ice-operated home cooling apparatus or unit which may be manufactured on a quantity production scale and at a very low price.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 illustrates a front elevational view, parts of the front wall being broken away for purposes of clarity, of an air cooling apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 depicts a vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on line 2-2 of g- Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified embodiment of the'present invention;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig; 5 is a front elevational view of another modified embodiment of the present invention with parts of the wallbroken away for purposes of clarity; and 0 Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Broadly stated, my invention provides a prismatic or cylindrical chamber or other container having an appropriate shape. This chamber or container may be mounted on legs. I prefer to mount rollers or coasters on these legs so that it is easily possible to move or roll the apparatus from one place to another. In the upper part of said chamber I provide a chamber for holding ice in the form of a cake or in the form of broken pieces. In the lower part of the apparatus, I provide a filling compartment constituted of a suitable material having highlydeveloped surfaces per unit of volume, such as BerL saddles, Raschig rings and the like. I found that filling material constituted of small units having a saddle-like form as described in U. 8. Patent No. 1,796,501 possesses particular advantage. of

. course, other filling materials such as rings and the like may be used with similar results as those skilled in the art will readily understand. At the bottom of the apparatus an electric fan is provided for establishing a stream or current of air which is caused to flow over the filling material,

in finely distributed form. After the stream of air supplied by the fan or blower has been passed in finely divided form through the filling material and in intimate contact with the film of ice water thereon and has been chilled and deprived of the bulk of its moisture due to its contact with the ice water, it is released into the room or space surrounding the cooling apparatus through an opening, port or hood, preferably located on the top of the apparatus. Thus, the room in which the unit is arranged will be soon filled with cool and healthful air which contains only a relatively small, moderate or controlled amount of moisture necessary for the comfort of the persons in the room. v

Substances which are capable of moistening dust may be added to the cooling water. Thus,

for example, the alkali salts of so-called water soluble acid tar may be used to remove the dust from the air which is being dehumidified and cooled. To improve the quality of the air, substances developing oxygen, as hydrogen peroxide or aqueous solutions of sodium peroxide, may be added to the water. The alkali salts will readily absorb the carbon dioxide and through decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide, oxygen will be produced to enrich the air. For the purpose of quickly decomposing-the hydrogen peroxide, small quantities of cobalt or vanadium salts and the like, may be added. Thus, by the use of suitable addition agents to the cooling water, the moisture, carbon dioxide and oxygen content of the chilled air may be adjusted to desired values.

For the purpose of giving those skilled in the art a better understanding of the invention, certain preferred embodiments will now be more fully described in conjunction with the accom panying drawings.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2,

an apparatus I is mounted on coasters 2 and has incorporated therein an ice chamber 3 and a filling compartment 4. The chamber is provided with a hinged cover or door 1 attached to the apparatus by means of hinges 3 and may be opened to permit the insertion of a cake of ice 8 on a frame or grid-like member 5. In thelfilling compartment, a screen I3 is located at the bottom upon which suitable filling material is mounted. For example, saddle-like filling members referred to hereinabove having a very large surface per unit of volume may be used. A horizontal pipe I I provided with a large: number, of fine openings or nozzles is arranged above the filling material whereby cooling water ma be introduced through funnel I! from a water main'l2. A powerful stream of air is blown by a relatively small electric fan I! into air chamber I4 which require very much power and can be operated from any electric light socket or outlet supplied by electricity from any public utility in the usual manner. air is provided at the top of the apparatus in the air chamber. Substances for removing dust or carbon dioxide and the like may be added to the cooling water from reservoir I 8 through an adjustable valve l9. The excess water is removed through siphon I6 connected to a drain at the bottom of apparatus l.

The operation of my improved cooling and air conditioning apparatus will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The ice water formed by melting of the ice and the cooling water added thereto will trickle through and over the filling material and will come into intimate and prolonged contact with the stream of air introduced by the fan and flowing countercurrently to the stream of ice water. Thus, the stream of air will be chilled andmoisture contained therein will be condensed. The cooled air hav- A hood 6 and a port 6a for the cooled ing a lower temperature and reduced moisture will be further cooled by immediate contact with the ice and will issue through the outlet port into the room or space surrounding the apparatus. The quality of the cooled air may be additionally controlled by introducing suitable agents into the cooling water. Of course, the complete unit is portable and may be easily moved or rolled from one room into the other to condition the air in bed rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, kitchen and so forth. Likewise, when 1 the apparatus is not needed for any length of time, as for example in the-winter, it may-be easily stored in the basement, attic or in the garage, etc.

The modified embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to the one described hereinabove. Apparatus 2| is divided into an inlet chamber for warm and humid air, a filling compartment, an ice-chamber, and an outlet chamber for cooled and dehumidified air and is 3| over the filling material 30 which is retained by screen 33. A perforated or foraminous tube 34 is horizontally arranged under screen 33 and is supplied with air under pressure by blower or fan 35, to provide a stream of air through the filling material and countercurrent to the water.

The excess water may be tapped off by opening valve 36. The cooled and dehumidified air is emitted through hood 26 mounted on top of the apparatus. Suitable substances or solutions 40 for further regulating the properties of the cooled air may be admixed to .the cooling water from reservoir 38, having a hinged top 39a and regulating valve 39.

In view of the similarity of construction, the

operation of this modified embodiment will be readily understood without any further explanation.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is especially adapted for manufacturing on a mass scale production due to its simple construction and regular form. A cylindrical container 4| which may be readily produced, for example, by welding from sheet metal is divided -into two chambers 43 and 44 having foraminous bottoms 45 and 53, respectively, and is supported by low 42. Ice 48 is introduced into the upper chamber by opening lid 41 hinged in pin 49. An opening or hood 46 for the chilled air is mounted on lid 41. The cooling water is introduced into the unit at 52 and after passing through reservoir 58 formed by partition wall 59 in the upper chamber 43, will trickle or flow through the small openings of tube 5|, and mixing with the ice water will flow through filling material 50. The air to be cooled is introduced by means of fan or blower 55 through foraminous tube 54 and is conducted countercm'rently to the cooling water, same as in the other embodiments. The cooled and dehumidified air will leave the apparatus at 46. A valve 56 for tapping on the waste water isprovided at the bottom surface of the unit. The operation of this embodiment is identical with that of the preceding embodiments with' the diiference that the cooling water is in direct heat exchange with the ice whereby the efliciency of cooling is increased to a certain extent.

' It will be noted that the air cooling and conditioning unit according to the principles of the present invention is very simple and inexpensive to build and to operate and is excellently adapted for use in the average home or apartment.

It will be also observed that-my air conditioning unit is substantially free from complex and noisy mechanism, compressors, poisonous gases and is based on a simple and fool-proof principle whichreduces the cost of upkeep to practically nil.

It will be further observed that my air conditioning unit is of small dimensions and of relatively light weight whereby it may be easily moved or rolled from one part of the house into the other as desired, and may be stored in a closet, attic, basement or garage when not in use.

A practical unit built according to the principles of my invention has been designed to-consume about 80 pounds of ice per day which costs approximately and at the current market price 32 cents. Figuring about 60 days of actual operation per year the cost of ice would amount to about $20.00 a year which is hardly more than the cost of electric energy consumed by a mechanical and conventional refrigerating unit during the same time. In addition, my unit may be manufactured and sold for a fraction of the price of the conventional air conditioners, which brings air conditioning within reach of the average home. Of course, my air cooling unit may be used without any connection to the water mains in which case only the ice water produced by melting the ice is used to cbol the air. The ice water may be collected at the bottom of the apparatus and is removed continuously or periodically. During the winter months the air conditioning unit may be used forhumidifying the air and also for heating by eliminating the ice, introducing hot water and passing air in heat exchange therewith. a

Jllthough I have described my invention in connection with a few preferred embodiments thereof many variations and modifications may be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles of the invention. I consider all-of these variations and modifications as within the true spirit and scopepf my invention as disclosed in the present description and defined by the appended claims.

1.. In an air conditioning apparatus, the com. bination comprising a container, an ice chamber in the upper portion of said container, a filling 75 compartment in the lower portion of said container, an. air chamber underneath said filling compartment, filling material in said compartment having highly developed surface, foraminous partition walls in between said chamber and said compartment, means for introducing finely distributed-cooling water and passing same together with the ice water formed through said filling material to form a thin film of cool water thereon, and means for introducing air under pressure in said air chamber and passing said air through said filling material countercurrently to said water trickling downwards whereby said air comes into intimate contact with said film of water and is dehumidified and cooled.

2. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination comprising a container, a filling compartment holding a material having a highly developed surface in an intermediate portion of said container, means for passing ice water and an additional supply of cooling water through said compartment to form a thin film of water on said material, and means for passing air countercurrently'to said water in contact and in intimate heat exchange therewith whereby said air is cooled and dehumidified.

3. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination comprising a container, a filling compartment holding a material having a highly developed surface in an intermediate region of said container, an ice chamber above said filling compartment, an air, chamber underneath said compartment, foraminous partition walls interposed between said compartment and said chambers, a

pipe having a plurality of nozzles located in the .upper portion of said compartment for introducing finely distributed cooling water and passing same in admixture to the formed ice water through said filling'material to form a thin film of cool water thereon, a perforated air pipe in said air chamber for introducing air under pressure through said filling material and through said ice chamber in intimate heat exchange with said film of water, and a port located on the top poring air purifying substances to said cooling water, a blower for conducting a stream of air under pressure into said air chamber through said filling material and ice in contact with the film of water formed on said filling material, and a hood having a port located on the top of the apparatus for removing cool and dehumidified air from the apparatus.

5. In an air conditioning apparatus, the com- I bination comprising a casing, an ice chamber in the upper portion of said casing, a filling compartment holding filling material of a highly developed surface per unit of volume in the intermediate region of said casing, an air chamber in the lower portion of said casing, a metal screen in between said chamber and said compartment, a

horizontal water pipe in said compartment having a plurality of nozzles for admixing a regulated supply of cooling water to the ice water trickling downwards and providing/9.4mm film of cool water on said filling material, a water reservoir in heat exchange with said ice intermediate to said horizontal water pipe and a water main for precooling said water, a blower having a perforated air pipe associated therewith for introducing air into said air chamber and for passing said air through said filling compartment in heat exchange with the film of water on the filling material, and a hood having a port on the top portion of the said casing for removing cool and dehumidified air from the apparatus.

6. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination comprising an ice chamber in the upper portion oi said apparatus having doors for inserting ice, a filling compartment holding filling material of a highly developed surface per unit of volume in the intermediate region of said apparatus, an air chamber in the lowest portion of said apparatus, foraminous partition walls in between said chambers and said compartment, 9. water pipe having a plurality of openings located above said filling material and adapted to supply regulated amount of finely distributed cooling water in admixture to the ice water trickling downwards, a perforated air pipe in said air chamber having a blower operatively associated therewith adapted to pass air to be treated through said filling material and ice chamber in contact with the film of cool water thereon, a port'on the top portion of the apparatus for removing cool and dehumidified air, and a reservoir holding air-purifying chemical agents in regulable communica tion with said water supply pipe and in heat exchange with said ice.

7. In a cooling apparatus, the combination. comprising. a cylindrical container having a hinged top cover, an ice chamber in the upper portion of said container underneath said cover, a filling compartment holding a filling material having a highly developed surface perunit of volume in an intermediate region of said container, an air chamber in the lower portion of said container, foraminous partition walls separating said chambers and said fillingcompartment from each other, a pipe having a large number of openings located above said filling material for supplying precooled cooling water to be admixed to the ice water formed in said ice chamber, and to provide a thin film of cool water on the surface of said filling material, a

blower associated with a perforated pipe located in said air chamber for supplying air to be treated into the apparatus and to pass said air through said filling compartment and ice chamber in intimate contact with said film of cool water, and a hood on the cover of said container having a port for removing cool and dehumldified air from the apparatus.

8. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination which comprises an ice chamber, a filling compartment located underneath said chamber, filling material in said compartment adapted to provide a highly developed contact surface for the ice water trickling down from said ice chamber, a water reservoir in heat exchange with said ice, and means for blowing a current of air through said filling material in intimate contact with the film of ice water formed thereon.

9. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination which comprises a container, an ice chamber in the upper portion of said container, a water reservoir in heat exchange with said ice, a filling compartment in the lower portion of said container, filling material in said compartment having a highly developed surface per unit of volume, a foraminous partition wall between said ice chamber and said filling compartment to cause the ice water trickling downwards through said filling material, and means for blowing air to be conditioned through said material in intimate contact with the film of ice water formed on the surface of said filling material.

10. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination which comprises a container, an ice chamber in the upper portion of said container, a water reservoir in heat exchange with said ice, a filling compartment in the lower portion of said container, filling material ,in said compartment having a highly developed surface per unit of volume, a foraminous partition wall interposed between said ice chamber and said filling compartment adapted to permit passage of the ice said filling material, and means for blowing air to be cooled through said material in intimate contact with the film of water on said filling material.

ERNST BERL. 

